Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development supports the development and deployment of clean energy innovations that increase agriculture productivity and stimulate low carbon economic growth in the agriculture sector of developing countries to help end extreme poverty and extreme hunger.

Washington, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Swedish Government, Duke Energy Corporation, the German Government, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, announced the 11 organizations that will collectively receive $12.1 million in funding under Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development. The awards will support innovative projects aimed at integrating clean energy technology into the agriculture sectors of developing countries. Selected from a pool of 475 applications—55 percent from developing countries—the winning organizations will design and deploy market-based, clean energy solutions for agricultural production in developing countries. These technologies will enable farmers to increase production and the value of agricultural goods through a focus on improving irrigation, on-farm mechanization, agro-processing, and cold storage—all while bolstering low-carbon economic growth. The winning innovators and the countries in which they will implement their projects are:

iDE. International Development Enterprises – Honduras, Nepal, and Zambia

The Earth Institute at Columbia University – Senegal

Camco Advisory Services – Benin and Tanzania

EarthSpark International – Haiti

ECO Consult – Jordan

Motivo Engineering – India

African Bamboo – Ethiopia

SunDanzer Refrigeration – Kenya

Promethean Power Systems – India

University of Georgia Research Foundation – Uganda

Rebound Technologies – Mozambique

“Powering Agriculture: A Grand Challenge for Development demonstrates how we can harness ingenuity and entrepreneurship to generate and scale real solutions in our fight to end extreme poverty. Joining a community of hundreds of innovators working across five different Grand Challenges, today’s winning ideas prove that we can change the landscape of what is possible in development,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

The announcement took place at a Development Exchange in Washington, D.C., where winners showcased their projects and discussed the impact they plan to achieve through the introduction of their new technologies in emerging markets. The Development Exchange also comprised speeches by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States Bjorn Lyrvall, and African inventor Kelvin Doe. Video messages were provided by thought leaders such as chef and social entrepreneur Jose Andres.

Powering Agriculture, launched in 2012, is a program designed to link renewable energy technologies with farmers and agribusinesses in low-income countries. Increasing their access to clean energy solutions empowers farmers to produce more and better quality food and products, and move that food to more distant markets. These advancements feed families, build businesses, and empower communities with affordable, sustainable, and market-based solutions.

At the Nov. 20, 2015 Powering Agriculture Innovator Showcase in Washington, D.C., the 2015 Innovator Cohort was introduced to the world. Hear what the Founding Partners, Innovators and guest speakers had to say about Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development.

In developing countries, three out of four people living in poverty have incomes tied to agriculture. Powering Agriculture is finding clean energy solutions to help them. Hear some of the voices of Powering Agriculture from Kenya, where only five percent of farmers have electricity.

Millions of farmers in developing countries have no, or poor quality, grid power, limiting the productivity needed to feed growing populations and farmers out of poverty. To address these barriers to development, the Founding Partners have created Powering Agriculture.

Once again, Futurepump and SunCulture have been selected by the London Stock Exchange Group as Companies to Inspire Africa. This pioneering report identifies Africa’s most inspirational and dynamic private, high-growth companies to a global market. Congratulations to them both!